HEALTH minister Brian Gibbons yesterday officially backed plans for a widespread ban on smoking in public places in Wales.

The minister approved proposals put forward by a cross-party groups of AMs calling for a comprehensive smoking ban in enclosed workplaces, shops, bars and restaurants.

Before a ban is introduced in Wales, a bill must pass through Westminster granting powers to Cardiff Bay.

Dr Gibbons said: "Smoking is the major preventable cause of illness and premature death in Wales, causing around 6,000 deaths each year.

"Second-hand smoke contributes to over 400 deaths each year.

"Adult non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a substantially increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory disease.

"Second-hand smoke is a serious public health risk that needs to be addressed. This will have health benefits for both smokers and non-smokers.

"Those are the facts and we must act on them."

The health minister said he was especially concerned all workers were protected from second-hand smoke, including staff in the hospitality sector, many of whom faced a heavy risk of exposure.

The Welsh ban could be stricter than that planned for England, where Westminster was proposing to exempt some places such as bars which do not sell food.

But Dr Gibbons said: "Pubs, bars and restaurants are areas of particular risk for workers and customers.

"If we are serious about protecting public health, then they must be included in any proposed ban.

"Research shows that customers, including smokers, quickly accept smoke-free as the norm and that smoke-free areas discourage people from taking up smoking."

The Westminster government has already signalled its intention to allow Wales to make up its own mind on a smoking ban.

The next stage will be the Health Improvement and Protection Bill going into Parliament for its first reading, probably in the autumn.

"Once the bill receives Royal Assent, we will carry out a consultation on draft regulations for Wales," said Dr Gibbons.

"In the meantime, we will be strengthening smoking cessation services, developing a public awareness campaign and holding discussions with key stakeholders on implementation of the ban.

"In Wales, we took the historic vote to ban smoking in public places.

"We will soon have the powers to implement that ban and we are pressing ahead.

"The experience in Ireland and New York, for example, shows that this is the right thing to do," he added.

Region heart disease shocker

WALES remains near the top of the British league table for heart disease, according to new figures published today.

The British Heart Foundation found the Welsh premature death rate for men last year was 206 per 100,000 and 72 per 100,000 for women.

Wales had a higher rate than the England average, 14% higher for men and 20% higher for women, despite fewer people dying from heart disease year-on-year.

Scotland had the worst record for deaths under the age of 75.

Despite the falling death rate, heart disease is still the UK's single biggest killer, claiming almost 114,000 lives in 2003.

Most of the causes remained preventable such as smoking, high levels of alcohol consumption and poor diet lacking in fruit and vegetables.

Prof Peter Weissberg, medical director of the BHF, said: "Smoking is one of the big issues that needs to be addressed. Scotland and Wales' impending moves to smoke-free workplaces, aimed at protecting workers, should have the welcome added affect of helping more smokers to give up.

"But still greater efforts are needed to reduce smoking rates across the UK."